Donna Milstead, 90

Donna Mae Langston Milstead, 90, died Aug. 14, 2025, at her daughter’s home near Lathrop. 

She was born July 29, 1935, in the ranch house on the Kelly Wilder Ranch (now Cloud 9 Ranch), in Ozark County. Her parents were Hartwell Lee and Pearl Frazier Langston.

Donna attended one-room elementary schools at Mt. Olive in Ozark County and Davis Creek in Howell County, graduating from West Plains High School with the class of 1953.

In 1959, she married Donal Lee Milstead in Independence. She made Independence her home until 2020, living in the same house for 57 years.

She was employed by the Dairy Council of Greater Kansas City, Health Midwest and Kansas City Bone and Joint before retiring in 1997.

She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Liberty, a past member of the Independence Young Matrons, and a past president of the Independence Jaycee Wives.

Donna loved to paint, both oil and landscapes, and she loved to travel. Except for three, Donna visited all of the states, Canada, Mexico, Barbados, St. Lucia, Belize and went five times to Europe. She did genealogy research for many years. Her greatest joy was her family.

She is survived by her daughters: Denise Milstead (Nathan York) of Lathrop and Melinda Milstead Stillman of Nixa; eight grandchildren: Erich Rahm (Nicki) of Conifer, Colorado, Monika Rahm Thelen (Jason) of Athens, Georgia, Erin Prout Fidler (Garrett) of Pleasant Hill, Bryan Prout (Megan) of Independence, Chrissy Stillman of Junction City, Oregon, Holly Stillman Porter (Gabriel) Davis of California, Nathan York, Jr. (Lindsay) of Lathrop, and Amanda York Kain (Andrew) of Kearney; and 14 great-grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her parents; husband; and daughter, Diana Milstead Rahm Liscum.